<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi All:<div><br></div><div>Having hosted two bale-raisings in the past two months, we've tied a number half bales lately. The method described is the one we use, though sometimes I'll just use a single loop knot.</div><div><br></div><div>I've found the key to my own stamina and that of others is to mix up the jobs, for both myself and all participants, so no one is doing any particular activity for an extended period of time. A long potluck lunch is also good for recovery. </div><div><br></div><div>And, as always, I am reminded that designs that minimize the need for half and custom bales are prudent.</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers,</div><div><br></div><div>David</div><div><br><div><div>On Oct 29, 2009, at 6:52 AM, Rikki Nitzkin wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; ">I am in agreement with chug. The method you use is the one I have used for years and I have had no problems, nor people unable to do it well. I think you must have a tendonitis or something similar which makes it difficult.<br><br>Maybe you could try compressing the bale with a trucker's strap so that when you re-tie you don't have to compress, just make the knot. It is much slower, but should work if your arm doesn't!<br><br>take care,<br>Rikki<br><br><br>El 29/10/2009, a las 12:19, Chug escribió:<br><br><blockquote type="cite">Hi Carol,<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">I've been tying and teaching custom bale making that way for years and have<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">never had any problems, or in teaching SB have I encountered anyone else who<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">has.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Maybe you have some localised old injury that is agravated by this sort of<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">movement?<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">bale on<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Chug<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><a href="mailto:Chug@strawbale-building.co.uk">Chug@strawbale-building.co.uk</a><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><a href="http://www.strawbale-building.co.uk">http://www.strawbale-building.co.uk</a><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">----- Original Message -----<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">From: <<a href="mailto:Carolatkn@aol.com">Carolatkn@aol.com</a>><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">To: <<a href="mailto:GSBN@greenbuilder.com">GSBN@greenbuilder.com</a>><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Sent: Thursday, October 29, 2009 10:32 AM<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Subject: Re: [GSBN] re tying half bales<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Hi<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">I'd really appreciate your thoughts on re tying bales. I did a straw bale<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">workshop 3 weeks ago and my left arm is still throbbing from making half<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">bales. It is very painful. I've noticed this for a few days before, but it<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">is<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">definatley much worse this time. It could have been exacerbated by the fact<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">that they only had the really thick baler twine which is very difficult to<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">pull through.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">We call our knot the "truckers hitch" although I don't think that is<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">strictly correct - a loop on the end, a loop a hand width away, threaded<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">through<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">and pulled in as tightly as possible and tied off. So my questions are<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Is this just me or has anyone else experienced something similar? I don't<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">want to be demonstrating this technique if I could be injuring some one.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Is there a better way to do it or a tool perhaps that could take the<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">strain? I've seen someone use a pallet strapper but the best tension is<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">achieved<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">with a metal buckle - could those buckles be a condensation point in the<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">wall? I've also heard of farmers making half size bales but inevitably some<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">adjustment will be needed so customising will always be needed.<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">best wishes<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">Carol Atkinson<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite">_<a href="http://www.strawcottage.co.uk">www.strawcottage.co.uk</a>_ (<a href="http://www.strawcottage.co.uk">http://www.strawcottage.co.uk</a>)<br></blockquote><blockquote type="cite"><br></blockquote></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></blockquote></div><br><div apple-content-edited="true"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">* * * * *</div><div>Arkin Tilt Architects</div><div>Ecological Planning & Design</div><div><br></div><div>David Arkin, AIA, Architect</div><div>LEED Accredited Professional</div><div>CA #C22459/NV #5030</div><div><br></div><div>1101 8th St. #180, Berkeley, CA 94710</div><div>510/528-9830</div><div><a href="http://www.arkintilt.com">www.arkintilt.com</a></div><div><br></div><div>"There is no way to peace. Peace is the way."</div><div>— A. J. Muste </div><div><br></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span></span></span></div></span></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></span><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"> </div><br></div></body></html>